Short answer: Begin in a forearm plank with elbows slightly ahead of shoulders. Press through the palms until the elbows straighten, then lower back to the forearms without letting the hips lead.
Technique
Keep forearms parallel, hands flat and ribs braced. Extend both elbows together. The movement should come from the triceps rather than rocking the body forward and back.
Regressions
Perform the movement from the knees or against an incline. You can also reduce range by placing the forearms on a low pad.
Muscles worked
The triceps lead elbow extension while shoulders, chest and core stabilize. Compare it with the close-grip push-up.
Mistakes
Elbows spreading wide, hands too far apart, hips sagging and dropping quickly onto the forearms reduce control. Stop if elbows or shoulders hurt.
Let triceps strength move the battle
RepSaga turns your repeatable push-up work into RPG progress while accessory variations build specific strength.
Frequently asked
Are sphinx push-ups hard?
They can be challenging because the triceps must press from the forearms without help from body momentum.
Do they work the chest?
The chest stabilizes and assists, but the triceps receive strong emphasis.